Origin of to kill two birds with one stone?

Answer:
This is a Chinese saying: yi shi er niao (一石二鳥)which literally translates to "one stone two birds". There is also another Chinese saying that goes yi jian shuang diao (一箭雙雕)which translates to "one arrow double vultures", the usage of which is the same.
This is a Chinese saying: yi shi er niao (一石二鳥)which literally translates to "one stone two birds". There is also another Chinese saying that goes yi jian shuang diao (一箭雙雕)which translates to "one arrow double vultures", the usage of which is the same.
Alternative Source:
In the Greek Mythology tale of Daedalus and Icarus. Daedalus is held captive by King Minos on Crete in a high tower. All he is able to see are high walls around him and large birds overhead awaiting his and his son, Icarus' demise. Daedalus devises a plan to throw stones at the birds in the hope of fashioning artificial wings to enable the pair to fly home. He finds, with his stone through a clever throwing motion, that he is able to strike one bird with the ricochet hitting a second bird, thus killing two birds with one stone. The rest is history.
First answer by ID3638529355. Last edit by Dandustoff. Contributor trust: 0 [recommend contributor recommended]. Question popularity: 7 [recommend question].